Making inroads: Madhya Pradesh’s Gurjar’s four-wicket haul pegged back Delhi’s progress.
| Photo Credit: M. PERIASAMY

 

On a day in which 12 wickets fell, Madhya Pradesh continued to hold the edge against Delhi after taking the crucial first-innings lead on the third day of the Take Sports All India Buchi Babu tournament final at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground here on Sunday.

Pacers Ramveer Gurjar (4/43) and Kulwant Khejroliya (3/38) led the way for MP to help restrict Delhi to just 201 in the first innings and secure their side a healthy 169-run lead.

However, MP made a mess of things in its second innings as the top-order collapsed to finish the day on 129 for six, with a lead of 298.

Earlier, the two MP left-arm pacers operated with pace and accuracy to bowl out Delhi at the stroke of lunch by taking the last six wickets for just 67 runs.

Khejroliya kicked things off for MP when he had overnight batter Lakshay Thareja caught at slip before Aryan Deshmukh had Hrithik Shokeen caught behind.

With the second new ball, Gurjar removed Sumit Mathur with a peach of a delivery that squared up the left-hander to clip the off-stump and then had Siddhant Sharma caught at first slip.

Only Shivank Vashisht provided a semblance of a fight for Delhi as he made a valiant 83 before he got run out tamely. The batter took it easy while trying to complete a third run and failed to ground his bat in time as he tried to duck for the throw coming in from the deep.

Vashisht (4/35) returned strongly with an impressive bowling performance, taking four wickets. The left-arm spinner used his variations well, getting Aniket Verma and Rishabh Chouhan nicking behind while he bowled MP skipper Shubham Sharma with a delivery that came in with the arm to give his side some hope.

If Delhi can restrict MP’s lead to less than 350, it will fancy its chances of going for the target, having nothing to lose.

The scores:

Madhya Pradesh 370 & 129/6 in 53 overs (Shivank Vashisht 4/35) vs Delhi 201 in 89.4 overs (Shivank Vashisht 83, Ramveer Gurjar 4/43).

Bending his back: Delhi medium-pacer Siddhant rattled the MP middle-order with the second new ball.
| Photo Credit: M. PERIASAMY

Despite a batting collapse, Madhya Pradesh was at an advantage against Delhi at the end of day two in the Take Sports All India Buchi Babu tournament final at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground here on Saturday.

Resuming at 271 for three, MP lost it last seven wickets for just 79 runs to be bowled out for 370 at the stroke of lunch.

However, the MP pacers struck early blows to leave Delhi tottering at 59 for four at one stage before Shivank Vashisht steadied the ship with a patient unbeaten 44 to take his side to 126 for four at stumps.

Earlier, Delhi’s Siddhant Sharma (three for 53) produced an inspired spell (8-1-12-3) with the second new ball and ran through MP’s middle-order.

The left-arm pacer first had overnight batter Adheer Pratap Singh trapped leg-before with a good yorker before dismissing Rishabh Chouhan — last game’s double-centurion — caught down the leg side for a duck. He then sent back Sumit Kushwah (114), who was caught behind, going for an expansive shot outside the off-stump.

Off-spinner Hrithik Shokeen (three for 80) chipped in with two wickets before left-arm spinner Vashisht (three for 53) cleaned up the last two batters.

For MP, Aman Bhadoria’s quickfire 42 off 28 ensured his side went past 350. He smashed Shokeen for two consecutive fours and a six in an over before doing the same to Siddhant with a cover drive, a slash through point and a pull over the long-on fence.

While the pitch is still a good batting surface, there were signs of wear with the odd deliveries keeping low and Delhi will need one of its batters to make a big score if it has to go past MP’s total.

The scores: Madhya Pradesh 370 in 118.5 overs (Arham Aqueel 65, Sumit Kushwah 114, Aniket Verma 68, Aman Bhadoria 42) vs Delhi 126/4 in 58 overs (Shivank Vashisht 44 batting).